Subnet should be inferred from static IP addresses

[Mark Shuttleworth]

When configuring interfaces, it is frustrating to have to choose a subnet ("192.168.1.0/24") and then input an entire IP address. There is a lot of duplicated content in those two :)

If I select a static address then I would expect that I can input the IP address directly and have it validated against the set of potential subnets. In other words, since MAAS knows what VLAN I am on, and it knows which subnets are on that VLAN, it should ask me for a simple IP address and then validate that against plausible declared subnets.

If I put in an IP address that does not match a subnet, it should refuse to accept it and provide me with a hot link to the place where I can describe the needed subnet before coming back to complete the IP address allocation.

[Mark Shuttleworth (sabdfl)]

Of course, for Auto address configuration, the subnet is essential.

[Mike Pontillo (mpontillo)]

What if it automatically inputs the "best" recommended (least recently used/available) IP address when the subnet is selected? Then the user can change it if s/he desires, and would at most need to delete an octet or two to get the desired address, if customization is required.

Related is bug #1633271; I've long thought that in most cases (except, as you point out, the declaration of a DHCP/auto IP on an interface) the link from a static IP address to its related subnet should not need to be explicit. But that's a design change that is probably too high risk for an end-of-cycle bug fix.

[Mark Shuttleworth (sabdfl)]

In the case of static addressing, I probably have an address in mind.
There is no way for MAAS to read my mind :)

However auto-complete would be useful. MAAS knows a set of subnets that
have been declared, so providing a type-ahead optimisation which lets me
start typing an IP address and get the first part of the address in
place quickly would be great. So say I start typing "19" then it could
add "2.168." which I could take advantage of with the right arrow key,
or the down arrow key might show me other subnets matching the 19
starting address.

[Mike Pontillo (mpontillo)]

I think maybe a hybrid approach would be good, so the user could either start typing and the subnet would change to the appropriate one (or warn that it isn't present on the VLAN), or choose a subnet and get a default address from MAAS.

For IPv4 you may have all your subnets memorized. But if you're assigning an IPv6 address, I can't imagine that you would want to type in the entire 64-bit prefix.

[Mark Shuttleworth (sabdfl)]

I think we're saying the same thing: the user starts typing, the
type-ahead prompt is smart (based on what MAAS knows of subnets). But
having a subnet AND an IP in the UX is pedantic and boring and ugly and
bad, so please take the guidance and show me you can run with it. The
subnet i implicit in the IP. Static addressing is focused on the IP.

Auto addressing, on the other hand, is focused on the subnet (or even
better, space).

Mark

[Martin Storey (cassiocassio)]

closed via

https://code.launchpad.net/~blr/maas/+git/maas/+merge/355899

[Andres Rodriguez (andreserl)]

@Martin,

The branch you are pointing to only addresses changes on KVM pods, but doesn't address changes on the MAchine's network configuration table. As such, I dont believe this issue has been fixed.

[Martin Storey (cassiocassio)]

I fear your are completely correct.

On Thu, 18 Oct 2018 at 18:06, Andres Rodriguez <email address hidden>
wrote:

> @Martin,
>
> The branch you are pointing to only addresses changes on KVM pods, but
> doesn't address changes on the MAchine's network configuration table. As
> such, I dont believe this issue has been fixed.
>
> ** Changed in: maas
> Status: Fix Committed => Triaged
>
> ** Changed in: maas
> Milestone: 2.3.x => next
>
> ** Summary changed:
>
> - Subnet should be inferred from static IP addresses
> + [UI] Subnet should be inferred from static IP addresses
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a bug assignee.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1685619
>
> Title:
> [UI] Subnet should be inferred from static IP addresses
>
> Status in MAAS:
> Triaged
>
> Bug description:
> When configuring interfaces, it is frustrating to have to choose a
> subnet ("192.168.1.0/24") and then input an entire IP address. There
> is a lot of duplicated content in those two :)
>
> If I select a static address then I would expect that I can input the
> IP address directly and have it validated against the set of potential
> subnets. In other words, since MAAS knows what VLAN I am on, and it
> knows which subnets are on that VLAN, it should ask me for a simple IP
> address and then validate that against plausible declared subnets.
>
> If I put in an IP address that does not match a subnet, it should
> refuse to accept it and provide me with a hot link to the place where
> I can describe the needed subnet before coming back to complete the IP
> address allocation.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/maas/+bug/1685619/+subscriptions
>

[Jerzy Husakowski (jhusakowski)]

This feature request is moved to the internal backlog for further prioritisation (internal ref. PF-3894)

[Thorsten Merten (thorsten-merten)]

Also changing for MAAS UI as this is tracked in Jira.
Imported from https://github.com/canonical/maas-ui/issues/1513